False viral messages and pictures of PPK Graduates during the Working Visit of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office to the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Plant at Pulau Muara Besar

In reference to messages and photos made viral through social media platforms including WhatsApp involving allegations of local workers comprising of graduates from the Capacity Building Centre (Pusat Pembangunan Kapasiti – PPK) at Pulau Muara Besar being kept "hidden" during His Royal Highness' visit to Pulau Muara Besar this morning, the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry has reported the allegations to be false and unfounded.

A key part of the planned activities for His Royal Highness' visit to Pulau Muara Besar today includes His Royal Highness' engagement with local workers for santap tengah hari (the mid-day meal) and Zohor prayers. In order to ensure that the local workers were afforded the opportunity to greet His Royal Highness, local workers were first gathered in one of the prayer rooms to ease ushering them to the santap venue once the venue was ready and to ensure they did not miss out on the opportunity. After joining His Royal Highness for the santap tengah hari, the local workers were also invited to join mass Zohor prayers with His Royal Highness at the PPK Surau on Pulau Muara Besar. After the prayers, the PPK graduates further attended a junjung ziarah session with His Royal Highness.

In preparation for His Royal Highness's visit, Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd conducted a briefing session to inform the local workers of the arrangements prior to the visit. Meanwhile, the public is advised not to easily believe any unverified information spread through Social Media Applications. The Ministry would also like to remind the public that spreading false and unfounded information to the public is an offence under Section 34 Public Order Act, Cap 148, which brings about imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of BND 3,000.00, if found guilty